TinCaps End Skid with 2-1 Win in Extras
April 24, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release
Midland, MI - Facing the possibility of a four-game sweep at the hands of the Great Lakes Loons, the Fort Wayne TinCaps earned a 2-1, 11-inning win at Dow Diamond Thursday night. Josh VanMeter scored the game-winning run on a passed ball, helping the TinCaps defeat the Loons for the second time in eight tries.
Fort Wayne (8-11) starter Pete Kelich turned in a strong outing, going 5 2/3 innings and striking out nine batters, besting his own mark for starters this season. He was given a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Mallex Smith scored the game's first run. The TinCaps center fielder walked to start the game, stole second, and eventually scored on a ground out by Dustin Peterson.
Great Lakes (13-7) issued its one-run retort in the bottom of the third against Kelich. Shortstop Dylan Moyer, who led off the inning, grounded to shortstop, but Franchy Cordero threw well wide of the first-base bag, committing his team-leading 11th error of the season. Moyers ended up at second base and scored three batters later on a Kyle Farmer RBI double.
For the second straight night the TinCaps offense did not produce a bevy of hits, limited to only six for the evening. In the 11th, VanMeter and Peterson had back-to-back one-out base hits, which put them at third and second, respectively. The Loons walked Ronnie Richardson, who had come in to pinch-run for Franmil Reyes in the ninth, and elected to face Fernando Perez. He struck out, but the third strike he swung at was a wild pitch charged to Michael Johnson (1-1). The pitch skittered to the backstop, allowing VanMeter to score the go-ahead run.
In the bottom of the 11th, Nick Mutz allowed a leadoff triple to Webster Rivas, which had the potential to be a home run if not for the strong winds blowing in from left field. Mutz proceeded to retire the next three batters in order, stranding the tying run on third, and securing his second save of the season. Reliever Tony Rizzotti (2-1), who pitched a scoreless 10th, earned the win.
Next for the TinCaps is a three-game series against the West Michigan Whitecaps, the Midwest League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The first game of the series is scheduled for Friday night at 6:35 p.m. at Fifth Third Ballpark. The scheduled starters are Coby Cowgill for Fort Wayne and Buck Farmer for West Michigan. The game can be heard on The Fan 1380 and TheFanFortWayne.com.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from April 24, 2014
- Cougars Come Back for Series Victory - Kane County Cougars
- West Michigan Lets Another Late Lead Slip Away - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Loons Fall in Extra Innings to Fort Wayne - Great Lakes Loons
- Dragons Win 3-1, Allow Just Two Hits - Dayton Dragons
- Hawks Streak Ends at Eight; Dragons Win 3-1 - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Araiza Strikes Again as BG Rallies to Beat Whitecaps - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- TinCaps End Skid with 2-1 Win in Extras - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Lugs clobber Captains, 10-2, completing sweep - Lansing Lugnuts
- Lugnuts Sweep Captains with 10-2 Win - Lake County Captains
- Thursday's Game at Peoria Postponed - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Chiefs - Kernels Rained Out - Peoria Chiefs
- River Bandits-LumberKings Postponed Thursday - Quad Cities River Bandits
- LumberKings-River Bandits Postponed - Clinton LumberKings
- Lugnuts Activate Kish, Place Cordero on the DL - Lansing Lugnuts
- Dragons Somsen Promoted to Bakersfield; Amezcua Returning - Dayton Dragons
- Bees take series with 4-1 win over Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Grand Slam RV Show Returns to Dow Diamond May 2-4 - Great Lakes Loons
- Gretzky Joins Bees; Aguilera to Inland Empire - Burlington Bees
- Dragons GameDay for April 24 vs. South Bend - Dayton Dragons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Fort Wayne TinCaps Stories
- Win Streak Snapped in Doubleheader
- Tuesday's Game Postponed by Rain, Doubleheader Set for Wednesday
- TinCaps Transaction & Game Information: April 23 vs. Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers Affiliate)
- Fort Wayne Wins Fourth Straight With Extra-Inning Flare
- TinCaps Game Information: April 21 at Dayton Dragons (Reds)